Tutankhamorangie and the toilets

The National Museums of Scotland made an exciting announcement earlier this week:

Congratulations to Emily Dodd – Glenmorangie have chosen her name for the specially created Night of the Mummy cocktail. Introducing… the Tutankhamorangie! Our judges had a hard time picking a name, so thanks to everyone who entered for your inventive suggestions!

The cocktail ingredients are Glenmorangie Original, ginger ale, flamed orange and golden syrup. They wanted a name with an ancient Egyptian/Museum twist… so what inspired Tutankhamorangie?

I’d spent hours recreating his death mask… painstakingly gluing on golden lentil after golden lentil, he had to be beautiful. My Tutankham, I was in primary school and ‘he’ was up in the little toilet at home for many years. I’m excited to have won tickets to the fabulous after hours event at the National Museum ’Night of the Mummy‘  but something is troubling me. It’s the little toilet. I’ve realised my family had too many toilets and only one of them was normal. The normal one was ‘the bathroom’, generic matching bath, toilet, sink and tiles. A showroom that guests were encouraged into. But what about the others?

The Little Toilet

You walked in to see King Tut’s life size death mask smiling at you from the back wall. If you dared to turn your back on the pharoe then to the left you could enjoy scenes from the world, postcards from friends, but there was one that didn’t fit. It was a cartoon bum that said ‘Kiss my arse’. Why was it there? Who sent it? *

The sink was also on the left and there was a medicine cupboard that was always locked. The right wall was bare tiles apart from a no smoking type sticker that read ‘no farting allowed’. We weren’t allowed to say fart, but this toilet was allowed. It broke the rules and demanded the impossible.

On the back of the door was a poster of ‘Reptiles and Amphibia of the British Iles’. I was fascinated by the slow worm, it said it was not a snake or a worm but a leggless lizard. Like a stick insect telling everyone it’s actually a wingless butterfly. And that mish mash of childrens art, postcards, stickers, leggless lizzard and questions was the little toilet. But the toilets don’t stop there.

The Downstairs Toilet

Our house was upsidedown, you entered upstairs and went downstairs to bed – it was built into the hill. It was downstairs that Dad converted a bit of hallway into our third toilet, ‘the downstairs toilet’. The bit of hall he used ended with an outside door and this door had a cat flap in it. Once he put an inside door in the downstairs toilet had two door, three if your count the catflap. Any moment a cat could pop in, quite unnerving if you’re not used to cats or toileting with a small guest. Guests of course, were not encouraged to use this toilet.

Because it was downstairs it needed to pump it’s content up the hill making it officially the noisiest toilet I’ve ever been to. After flushing the sound was somewhere between a photocopier and an elephant. The pump wasn’t strong enough for a number two and despite the sign on the door and the toilet itself ‘PLEASE POO UPSTAIRS’, guests would disregard the hand written advice. Perhaps by the time they saw the sign it was too late? Perhaps they thought it was just a best practice suggestion?

The pump would go crazy.. a herd of elephants and churning like little rocks in a blender for several minutes, the toilet was in protest and we all knew why…

The Dark Side of the Downstairs Toilet

The pump woke me up, sometimes it pumped for no apparent reason. I adjusted to the shadows and realised I needed to go but I was scared. As I entered the toilet the wind whistled outside, I tried not to look at the cat flap, it was a little window I didn’t want to see out of, my imagination had a habbit of playing tricks on me. Suddenly the cat flap blew open, the bang made me jump and I was had to look and check the bang wasn’t an arm reaching for my leg. I hoped it was my cat but there was no one there.

My great aunty died, I didn’t know her but and I inherited her snake draft excluder. It was in my bedroom for one night and my hamster, Toffee died. I decided the snake was cursed. It had killed Auntie Evie one night and my hamster the next. I thought it would kill me if I fell asleep in the same room so I put it in the downstairs toilet. I should have put it in the bin or said something but my family had all gone on about how great the snake was. I didn’t want to be ungrateful or disrespectful to the dead. It made night time toilet trips even more scary, it wanted me to fall asleep so it could continue it’s cursed purpose, or so I thought…

Thankfully now my ancient Egyptian inspired imagination has won me whisky, Tutankhamorangie!

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*UPDATE: Just had a text from my Mum saying ‘Just read the blog about our loos and laughed out loud!’. She also texted me of the words on the ‘Kiss my arse’ poster (a poster, I’d forgotten that, clearly my memory just fixated on the last line!) It goes like this “When I’m in a sober mood I worry work and think, when I’m in a wilder mood I gamble, play and drink. But when my moods are over and the world has come to pass, you can burry me upsidedown and the world can kiss my arse”

Thanks Mum, is good to be reminded of the poetry I was exposed to in chidlhood!

 

Jaimie MacDonald: Three Sided Freelancer

With lots to learn about my new freelance lifestyle, I’ve decided to interview the people who make freelancing work. Some hints and tips from the masters, that kind of thing. Welcome to the fourth in the series: meet Jaimie MacDonald.

I first met Jaimie at a music and poetry gig in September last year. I was the poetry act for the evening and secretly, I was feeling awful. It was my first week as a full-time freelancer and that day my shower, phone and computer had broken. I was ready to give up and run away but I sat next to Jaimie and as we chatted she told me how she had become a freelancer after a redundancy and it had been the best thing that had ever happened to her. She was running workshops, designing recycled jewellery, life coaching and thoroughly enjoying life. Jaimie was the best person I could have sat next to, she was totally inspiring. I invited her to the first Edinburgh Freelance Friday, which happened to be the very next day. The following evening I headed to my bus stop and there she was, it turned out we were neighbours too! It’s been great getting to know Jaimie over the last few months and we’re now collaborating on recycled craft and storytelling workshops. Here’s Jaimie’s inspirational story… 

Originally from a village in the Highlands called Strathpeffer, Jaimie moved to Edinburgh in 2001 to study Jewellery and Silversmithing from Edinburgh College of Art. She continued making jewellery whilst working for Edinburgh’s Scrapstore ‘Bits and Bobs’. She wrote a book entitled ‘Jewellery from Recycled Materials’ and began running adult education workshops for Bits and Bobs. She now works as a freelancer jeweller, educator and life coach.

How did you get started?

Well, I really have had a gradual process of creating my freelance life. I started in part time self-employment as a jeweller in 2005 when freshly graduated with a degree in Jewellery and Silversmithing from Edinburgh College of Art.

Then, it was in a moment of charity funding turmoil that I reflected on the fact that I’d never wanted to be just one thing in life and I had other aspects of me that I wanted to explore. With the exciting possibility of full-time  freelance being the reality, I started a Certificate course in Personal Coaching in early 2010. Three months later my coaching course was complete and I had my final day as an employee. I filed my redundancy letter away and started looking forward to what came next as a full time freelancer.

Almost 2 years later I’m still practicing as a freelance jeweller, arts educator  and life coach! Yippee!

If you could go back to when you started what advice would you give yourself?

I would tell myself to stop listening to my inner critic and push on past the fear of not feeling good enough, you really need to take care of yourself and don’t get burnt out and demotivated. I would also tell myself how important it is to have supportive and successful people around that are doing the freelance thing too, and for goodness sake don’t be afraid to ask for help, you can’t do it all by yourself!

What do you like best about being a freelancer?

One of the biggest differences that I have enjoyed since being freelance full-time is the freedom to explore this lovely and vibrant city I live in whenever I feel the need to let the world pass me by or get engaged in something new.  I also enjoy the fact that I can get to play with the flow of my creative work, learning the rhythms of the different aspects of what I do and importantly I can choose how to fit them together.  Still working on it!

What do you find most challenging about being a freelancer?

Putting the effort in to find new work and creating new projects even if you don’t know if they are going to work. Also, moments of procrastination, though I’m trying out some techniques to deal with this…planned procrastination anyone?

How do you know when to stop working?

I try to keep to a general time structure of what kinds of work I do when. 9-5 doesn’t usually happen when it’s a busy spell with my jewellery for example, especially on the run up to Christmas when I can have 3-4 exhibitions to design and make a variety work for. I can generally tell it’s time to stop if I get a fuzzy head and sore neck.

What do you do in your breaks?

My days vary and so do my breaks. Some  days my breaks are on the bus where I read and watch the world go by, If I’m in my studio I will curl up in my chair and snooze or go for a wander.  At the moment I’m liking the idea of creating some kind of ’break in case of… ‘ map or kit  that’ll tell me where my nearest peaceful place/space is so I can escape what I’m doing totally for a little bit before carrying on with my work.

Are you being paid to do what you love or do you do something else to finance what you love?

Oooooh I’m being paid to do what I love! It’s so good to remember that!  I run messy play sessions for parents and children through South Edinburgh Healthy Living Initiative and I have been asked by mums  ‘so is that what you do for a living?’ and I take great pleasure in acknowledging that ‘yes it is!- I get paid to play and be messy a couple of days a week.  Because there are different aspects to what I do they support each other and I can be flexible with where I put my focus depending on time, finances and my need for learning new things .

What are your top money saving tips?

Go to the library for your books and not Amazon if you can help it!

Also I just tend to avoid the shops and when I do go shopping I go for charity shops, craft fairs and ethical fashion sales and of course the wonders of Clothes swapping!

What new projects are in the pipeline?

Jewellery: In the next few months I will be getting on with some of the sketches that have been in my sketchbooks for ages. I’ve wanted to do something more installation/lighting related for a while now and I have the perfect exhibition to work towards in April.

I have been invited to show my work in Norway over the summer and I’m really  looking forward to my first international jaunt with my jewellery!

Arts education and Coaching: I want to try more Collaborative working and working with other creative people with different skills I’m feeling the need to challenge myself to incorporate new aspects or ways of delivering workshops or coaching, for example connecting coaching and creative education more closely. I also have a hankering after getting some outdoor learning experience and inviting my childhood explorer out to play!

Find out more on Jaimie’s website and follow her on twitter @Jaimgem.

If you’re an Edinburgh Freelancer why not join the next Edinburgh Freelance Friday on the second Friday of the month, 5.30pm at Sofi’s, Leith. More here. 

If you enjoyed this interview, you might like to read the following interviews with Edinburgh Freelancers; Jonathan Melville: Big Person, Big Personality, Jolene Cargill: Opted out because she cares and Alan McIntosh: Man of Mystery Behind The Broughton Spurtle.

 

Home Sauna Kettle Kit

I’m having kettle trouble. The lid broke.

It still works, you just have to be there to switch it off. It’s fine, I’ve managed like that for two weeks.

But then I filled it up for a hot water bottle. I was off in the other room, busy. I’d forgotten the lid issue.

Suddenly I realised that bubbling noise had been going on for ages….

OH NO QUICK the kettle!

I opened the door to… a sauna!

Almost all of the kettle’s contents had evaporated, the air was thick with steam. I braved the boiling water and switched it off.

I’m editing a Greener Leith podcast about repairing things – the message is we don’t need to throw things away.

The kettle is my nemesis. It broke in less than three years, designed to fail to force me to buy more, to keep me consuming.

Do I get a new one?
Home sauna kit anyone?

 

Dancing Light

I came across this brilliant TED lecture explaining the nature of light using dance:

Dancing Sound
Skilful dancers bring particle physics to life but regular people can do it too. A few years ago I wrote a science theatre show for Edinburgh University that included a 20-volunteer demonstration. My volunteers stood in a long line all facing forward with both hands on the shoulders of the person in front. Each person represented a molecule and collectively they represented gas. We made a sound at one end and it travelled through the gas as each person patted the shoulders of the person in front when they felt a pat, a sort of mexican pat to show the longitudinal nature of sound waves.

The volunteers demonstrated what happens to sound in a vacuum by breaking the chain with a gap; the pat (or sound) couldn’t travel through it. They showed how sound travels faster when molecules are closer together in a liquid; they stood closer and the pat travelled faster just like it does in real life. Volunteers are a brilliant way to represent the physical properties of an abstract concept and most importantly, we had fun and experienced something collectively.

Top Tips on Working with Volunteers When Communicating Science
As a presenter you control the space, you need to keep everyone engaged and comfortable. The best way to do this with volunteers is to address to your volunteer loudly, then you’re addressing the audience at the same time e.g.

PRESENTER: What’s your name?
VOLUNTEER: Derrick
PRESENTER: Derrick you must be a brave man. I’d like you to loop this string onto each finger…

The audience will identify with the volunteer’s task; you bring them into it as it unfolds. If you speak quietly to explain something to the volunteer, the audience are no longer part of the show; you’ve lost them. They’re likely to start talking between themselves and who can blame them? If you speak to the audience but not the volunteer, the volunteer is left feeling awkward, wondering where they should be standing and what they should be doing. If your volunteer is a child, they’re likely to start fidgeting with something nearby at this point – your props most likely. It could be dangerous and it’s not fair to leave them alone in front of so many people. Remember to ask and use your volunteer’s name. If you have 20 volunteers in a row, just use the names of the person at either end (unless you are some sort of name genius). The point is by addressing both volunteer and the audience you keep everyone with you, you keep everyone safe, engaged and happy.

Science, I Miss You!
I miss writing science theatre shows. I miss seeing people excited about science.  I miss blowing things up. This video reminded me I want my year ahead to include a little more science and a lot more dancing.

 

Jonathan Melville: Big Person, Big Personality

I recently became a full-time freelancer. With lots to learn about my new lifestyle I’ve decided to interview the people who make freelancing work. Some hints and tips from the masters, that kind of thing. Welcome to the third in the series, meet Jonathan Melville. 

I first met Jon in March at an award ceremony. Jon interviewed me and totally put me at ease despite the camera. The subject was volunteering and I recall saying “see a need, meet a need”. Afterwards Jon asked if I’d come up with it, “No” I confessed “it’s from the Disney film Robots”. I proceeded to tell him how brilliant Robots was since he hadn’t seen in. It was only after that I discovered Jon was actually Scotland’s premiere film expert, there I’d been with a lot of enthusiasm and a less than eloquent description of a children’s film. 

Since then I’ve got to know Jon at various Edinburgh events and through social media. I’m always impressed by the number of projects Jon works on. He’s well known in Edinburgh and in social media, a big person with a big personality (and I didn’t steal that from Disney).

Although Edinburgh-based Jonathan Melville graduated from Napier University with a Publishing degree firmly rooted in the world of books and magazines, it’s online that he has made his career over the last decade.

Jon managed websites for organisations such as VisitScotland and Standard Life Bank. He then worked for an Edinburgh-based digital agency for three years before fully embracing freelance life as a digital editor and copywriter in 2011.

Now entering his fourth year as film columnist for the Edinburgh Evening News, Jonathan works with Creative Scotland on a number of film-related online projects and runs film website, www.reelscotland.com, voted 10th Best Scottish Website by The List in 2011.

How did you get started?

I started back in 2008 writing arts reviews for the Edinburgh Evening News while working full time as a website editor for various public and private sector companies. I started to get more serious about the idea of going full time freelance in 2010 after a university course I was accepted on fell through. I was finally pushed into taking the plunge in 2011 when two things happened: I was offered a substantial contract with Creative Scotland to manage a number of online projects and my full time employment ended when I was made redundant. I signed the Creative Scotland contract the day after I received my redundancy letter so thought that perhaps it was a sign that freelance life was worth committing to.

If you could go back to when you started what advice would you give yourself?

If I’d known in 2010 the way things would go I would certainly have saved more money at the start of the year, and I think that’s something that’s worth doing even if you’re aren’t planning to go freelance right now. I wasn’t expecting to made redundant and it can, as we see on the news every day, happen any time. Cheery thought.

What do you like best about being a freelancer?

It’s great to be able to take some chances on projects I’d have no way to be part of if I was working 9 to 5 for someone else. I’m still constrained in that I have to make enough to pay the bills each month but this past year has been the most creative and downright fun I’ve ever had. I like that I can’t afford to be complacent about things.

What do you find most challenging about being a freelancer?

Although I always thought that working from home must be the best way to work, I do sometimes miss being in an office with a team. I’ve been working in an office at Edinburgh Napier University for the last few months which means adjusting to a new routine for a few days a week while working from home the rest of the time. There’s a lot to be said about maintaining a regular 9 to 5 day, even if you’re not working on a paid for piece of work.

I suppose the biggest challenge is putting in the effort of finding new work and not knowing what you’ll be doing in a few months time. If you start to think about that too much it can be daunting.

How do you know when to stop working?

I try to stick to the regular 9 to 5 I mentioned before, but if something needs to be finished outside of those hours then I’ll do that. As well as the work I’m contracted for I run ReelScotland in my evenings and weekends, so it’s never quiet around here.

What do you do in your breaks?

Because my days vary, so do the breaks. I try and get away from the computer screen at least once an hour and take a walk outside during lunch.

Are you being paid to do what you love or do you do something else to finance what you love?

That’s a tricky one. The Creative Scotland project has found me promoting Scottish cinema and filmmakers via various websites and has allowed me to travel around the country meeting fascinating people in the process. Meanwhile, ReelScotland finds me doing the same but it doesn’t earn me a penny. So I’m doing what I love which also pays me to do what I love. Does that answer the question?!

What are your top money saving tips?

Make your own lunch. Walk instead of getting the bus. Don’t buy too many DVDs.

What new projects are in the pipeline?

There are a few more film related projects that I’ve had meetings about as well as some regular content writing jobs. I’m also developing some new ideas for ReelScotland.

Find out more about Jonathan at www.jonathanmelville.co.uk or follow him on Twitter at @jon_melville

If you’re an Edinburgh Freelancer why not join the next Edinburgh Freelance Friday on 13th January, 5.30pm at Sofi’s, Leith, more here. 

If you enjoyed this interview you might like to read the following interviews with Edinburgh Freelancers, Jolene Cargill: Opted out because she cares and Alan McIntosh: Man of Mystery Behind The Broughton Spurtle.

 

My Annual General Review of 2011

2011 was a roller coaster. It began with a freezing cold jump into the Firth of Forth and ended with my 30th birthday. In between I published my first book, wrote and presented a CBeebies pilot, appeared in a fringe show, performed at my first book festival, won a couple of awards and near the end of the year I resigned from my job to become a full-time freelancer.

I’ve done things I never imagined I could do and I’ve felt like a passenger holding on for dear life. It’s been exciting, it’s been scary and it’s been hard. At times I know I’ve forgotten to enjoy the ride. I’ve struggled with finances, relationships, self-confidence and health. I’ve spent most of the year outside my comfort zone but I’m learning that’s the best place to be.

Right now I’m a little apprehensive about the year ahead so I’m reviewing 2011 in top fives, I hope this will help me to make new plans and look forward to 2012. If you want to find out a bit more just click on a link.

5 things I started..

• This Blog (June)
• Banana Me Beautiful facebook page (June)
• Greener Leith Zero Waste Podcast Series (July)
• Edinburgh Freelance Friday (September)
• A writers group (October)

The Zero Waste Podcast series began with the journey of waste, I travelled from bin to landfill (and retched).

5 things I made..

• A CBeebies pilot with BBC Scotland (finished in the summer)
• Films as a Freelancer (May and June)
• A poetic declaration of love to the Number 10 Eco Bus
• Snowmen out of socks with kids on the canal (Dec)
• Podcasts, loads of them! (all year)

5 awards..

• Communicate Science Poetry Competition winner with ‘Switch’ (March)
• Inspiring Volunteer Award from the Lord Provost (May)
• Poet of the Week on Poet on Poetry (July)
• Greener Leith number 6 in the List Magazine’s Top 30 Scottish websites (July)
• Greener Leith won the £80,000 Energy Share Award for the Community Wind Turbine (December)

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5 live performances..

• Banana Me Beautiful book launch on a boat (July)
• Leith on the Fringe: Live in Leith (August)
• Ragged University Ragged Talk (August)
• Stone Soup: Poetry Slot (September)
• West Port Book Festival (October)

You can watch the live stream of my fringe show or listen to my West Port Book Festival event as a podcast, click on the links above for more. Thanks to Chris Scott who took the photo below at the West Port Book Festival.

5 close encounters of the animal kind..

• Birds in the bushes for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch (January)
• Go Away Blackbird: terrorised by a night singer and exploring the nature of love (February)
• Wet wildlife ‘IN’ the Water of Leith (June)
• Hello hawk at the landfill site for the Zero Waste Podcast (July)
• Hello Dog! Interview with a puppet dog (August)

Lots of birds! I was surprised to see my campaign to persuade locals to do the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch in the Guardian and I later received a letter of thanks from the head of media at the RSPB! It was only after this that the blackbird started to terrorise my nights…

5 interviews..

• The Edinburgh Guardian: ’Heroes at Home’ representing Changeworks as Education Officer (January)
• Edinburgh Reporter Chats: Emily Dodd (June)
• Clear-Minded Creative Type #14: Poet, Artist & Blogger Emily Dodd (July)
• Scottish Poetry Library Podcast: Emily Dodd (October)
• Podcast of Distinction: A Digital Maven in her own words (November)

I’ve been excited and nervous when people have wanted to interview me. Massive thanks to all of you – you’ve really encouraged me. Thanks to STV local and Edinburgh Reporter for additional interviews too. For the record I’ve never been called a ‘digital maven’ or appeared on an international poetry podcast or been filmed by the Guardian before so I’m still not quite sure how this all happened! Here’s the Guardian film, it’s a project where I designed ‘heroes at home’ engagement cards and masks to encourage pupils and parents to reduce waste.

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5 things I finished..

• Snowboarding (February)
• My first book, Banana Me Beautiful (March)
• Paying for my bike on the cycle to work scheme (May)
• My first three years of a fixed rate mortgage (August)
• Working for Changeworks (September)

Snowboarding stopped when I flipped over and head butted an Italian mountain. The hospital was an experience “Un-dresse!” they commanded and I started taking my clothes off. “No what is your addressa!”. It’s funny now but I wasn’t laughing when I had to wear a neck brace. After four years of boarding, I’ve had enough. At least I had time to read and take these photos.

Sestriere, Italy, posted with vodpod

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5 adventures..

• Jumping in the sea for Greener Leith (January)
• Creativity in a tepee in Glen Strae (March)
• Making Wild Connections on Tanera Mor (July)
• Teaching children on the Isle of Barra (September)
• Interviewing an MSP at the Scottish Parliament (December)

Loony Dook Video

5 things I tried..

• Scottish Book Trust Mentoring Scheme
• Edinburgh Book Festival Story Shop
• Jesting About 2: BBC Comedy Competition
• Get a Squiggle On: BBC Script Competition
• Love

I want to point out there were plenty of things that didn’t happen but it’s all part of learning and growing. I hope this will encourage you not to give up if you experience a knock-back. One exciting development is that I do now have a mentor but not through the Scottish Book Trust, it’s the wonderful Elspeth Murray!

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5 things I became..

• Trustee of Speygrian network
• Co-chair of Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Environmental Education Forum
• Facilitator for a weekly Community Group
• A full-time Freelancer
• An aunty (for the fourth time)

5 hopes for the future

• Make my CBeebies pilot into a BBC series
• Publish a picture book
• Get better at the ukulele
• Make freelancing work and collaborate too
• Use my creativity to make the world a better place

Finally here are a few more numbers from 2011….

blog posts produced for Greener Leith (48), podcasts made (30), blog posts on this blog (26), films made as a freelancer (9), guest blogs I wrote (8), workshops on National Poetry Day (6), blogs I wrote about Mooncups, yikes! (5), Films I made for fun (3), Awards presented to schools (2), times I performed poetry on the street due to ‘venue problems’ (2) and I attended 4 weddings and a funeral.

Thank you so much to everyone who’s been part of my 2011. Your support and encouragement have made my year possible. And for those friends who drank tea and laughed with me, you know who you are, you’re wonderful (:

 

What do you want to be in 2012?

A few days ago, while filing receipts for my first tax return I came across something unexpected and it made me smile. It was a list I’d written and forgotten, from the beginning of 2011. I wrote it during a training course, we were asked to consider ‘who we are’ but I listed what I wanted to be too. Some aspirations are achievable like being on time, having a real fire or being alive. But I also had some unachievable aspirations – wanting to be Regina Spektor, Doctor Who’s Assistant and an eagle. Achievable or not, what you want to be is part of who you are. What do you want to be in 2012?

 

Christmas on the Canal

I spent the last two weekends hosting Christmas Crafts and Storytelling on the only canal boat cafe in Edinburgh, Zazou at Harrison Park. It was a little quieter than we had hoped, we didn’t have real life reindeer or a big wheel like Princes Street but we did have a boat, lots of sequins, excited children and snowmen made from socks!

Children and Creativity

I was reminded how wonderfully uninhabited children are when it comes to creativity. The younger they were, the more colourful and creative their sock snowmen became. I’d designed these snowmen to be really simple and easy to make but I hadn’t imagined all the different shapes, sizes and colours that transpired. They became so very individual, just like us.

Parents asked their children questions like “what colour is a snowman’s mouth?” and the children would respond with their pen, wanting to get it right. The younger children made their snowman’s mouth blue or orange and I love that. It’s their snowman, their new creation, it can be any colour they want.

I believe we’re all are creative in some way or another, as we get older we often loose that element of risk and play it safe with our creativity. Children don’t have to be perfect, they’re expected to make a mess and they enjoy experimenting. It helped me to remember to enjoy experimenting and taking a risk.

The children made peg fridge magnets too, I took photos on my phone both weekends and used twitter to share their crafty creations whenever I got a free moment. Most of them are in an album on the banana me beautiful facebook. Here are a few more of my favourites.

Sharing

This was to be a community event, crafts and stories, something for families, something to bring people together at Christmas, but we needed help to let people know it was happening.

Steve, the boat manager wrote an article for the canalside magazine, they even added their own pictures. I wrote a press release which ended up in the Edinburgh Reporter, Edinburgh City of Literature and Innertube Map, masszive thanks to all of these organisations for helping.

We asked the people who visited the boat how they’d heard about the event. One family had come because someone had posted it onto the Mum’s yoga group facebook page, several people had emails from the local food group, one lady said her Mum had heard about it on Princes Street, some were passing, several came from the kidding around Edinburgh facebook page and others from the links above.

Dan from the Edinburgh Evening News boarded the boat to take a photo of Finlay and his snowman. Finlay had a great time with his Dad. Here’s the ‘What’s on Guide’ with a lovely write up too.

Storytelling

I’d written the story especially for the event to be take place on the canal, it featured a forgetful swan and a singing squirrel. There were chances for everyone to participate, an adult was in charge of splashing (with real water), we all sang the song. Steve the boat owner woofed like a dog and made a big bang half way through the thunderstorm, at this point we were stamping our feet and drumming on our knees. I did a few small story groups, one or two families joined together and we had fun. A small girl said, “can we do that again?” as soon as we finished, her brother didn’t want to do it again, he couldn’t wait to spot the squirrel and the lightning tree from the story, he ran to the window and pressed his nose against the glass, “can we go and see the squirrel?, I want to see the squirrel!”.

And so, even though I didn’t get to tell the story as many times as I hoped, I helped to make a lot of snowmen, angels, stars and Christmas trees. I had a brilliant time on the boat, thanks so much to Steve and to everyone else who helped support the event.

 

You’re Wonderful

Last night, a good friend said “you’re wonderful, you do know that don’t you?” and something embarrassing happened; I cried. We were saying goodbye after a Christmas carol service, crying really wasn’t part of the plan.

The thing is, I go into to schools with stories and songs I’ve written, ultimately to tell children just that, “you’re wonderful, there’s only one like you”. I’d forgotten how powerful these words are and how much we all need to hear them.

So this Christmas, if you think someone’s wonderful, why not look them straight in the eye and say it like you mean it.

 

Jolene Cargill: Opted out because she cares

I recently became a full-time freelancer, for those who are considering it, it’s awful… and brilliant. With lots to learn about my new lifestyle I’ve decided to interview the people who make freelancing work. Some hints and tips from the masters, that kind of thing. Welcome to the second in the series, meet Jolene Cargill. 

I first met Jolene five or six years ago in Edinburgh. We lost touch until I met Jolene at the October ‘Freelance Friday’. We realised we already knew each other and laughed about how we’d last seen each other at a corset party, we hadn’t spoken since. It was only later I thought this might sound dodgy. Just to clarify to those who witnessed the conversation, it’s like a Tupperware party but with corsets, there’s a chance to try them on and buy them. They’re elegant and expensive hand-made corsets, anyway. It’s been great to be back in touch with Jolene once again, she’s lovely and her motivations for going freelance are an inspiration…

Media mad Jolene Cargill does all kinds of wholesome communications work with charities, social enterprises and ethically minded businesses. Originally from a tiny village in Lanarkshire and a graduate of Aberdeen University she moved to Edinburgh in 2001 to do a post graduate journalism diploma. During her years as a freelance journalist Jolene funded her writing pursuits with a host of part time jobs from assistant countryside ranger, waitress, dog walker, barmaid, marketing officer for a music venue and call centre worker. More than anything (except maybe The Beatles) she loves finding a good story and telling it to the world.  She now considers Edinburgh her spiritual home but sometimes gets confused by salt and sauce.

1.How did you get started? 
Doing PR work for the third sector was not planned. It sneaked up on me while I was working as freelance journalist and volunteering for a local media charity. I started helping with events, fundraising and PR. Then I realised I was able to use my skills as a journalist to help organisations get their messages out there. And it made me all warm and fuzzy inside. Most of the charities and voluntary groups who needed support to reach their audiences as part of their fundraising couldn’t afford PR agency rates. So I set up as a freelance PR to help plug the gap. And thanks to the North Edinburgh Business Incubator and funding from PSYBT I took on my first big contract back in 2005 beating competition from some of the top agencies. Now I get to support causes I care about. And when I can I still keep my hand in at feature writing.

2. If you could go back to when you started what advice would you give yourself?
Don’t attempt your own tax returns even if you love messing about with a good spreadsheet. Get a decent accountant that is prepared to badger you to get things in on time. I try to make my books a weekly task but accidentally forget on purpose. What else? For the sake of sanity get a good network of people around you. You will need support from kindred spirits who you can bounce ideas off. And it will motivate you to stop working at home in your PJs and get out and about if you can meet up with a fellow freelancer and share gripes. Preferably over cake.

3. What do you like best about being a freelancer?
The people I meet and the constant sense of possibility. I am driven by this sense that I can be more creative because of the sheer variety of work and the flexibility of not being bound by nine to five office culture. Above all I love constantly being tested and having to learn new skills as I go by just getting on with it. Well, except for the book keeping.

4. What do you find most challenging about being a freelancer?
Three things. Managing time, priorities and people’s expectations. Doing all the delivery, marketing, client management and accounts means I can’t take my eye off the ball on one project if another starts to get busier. If I have too much time on my hands my inner procrastinator takes over so I have learned to thrive on being busy. The adrenalin helps. And serious amounts of caffeine, which also helps when it comes to dealing with unrealistic expectations. I think to build decent relationships you have to develop a thick skin especially when clients say things like ‘What do you mean we can’t have front page in the Herald.’

5. How do you know when to stop working?
When I start twitching and/or eating all the snacks in the house. It’s great to get into the zone but not a good idea to stare at the computer screen too long. I get up every 15 minutes and do some weird stretching. That’s harder in the office as people tend to look at you strangely. It’s harder to switch off in the evenings recently since I gave in to buying a smart phone. The temptation is always there to check emails. I find it helps to arrange fun evening classes. Though if I have a deadline I have to keep going until it’s done even if that means my head spinning into the wee small hours.

6. What do you do in your breaks?
I tend to do a fair bit of pottering. I work part time from an office in Rose Street so I skulk about in town around Princes Street Gardens and St Andrews Square reading the paper and trying to resist over priced coffee. I go for long walks and drives out of the city as often as I can. If I can face sitting at the computer a bit longer of an evening I attempt a bit of creative writing. And at weekends I love to cook for family, have play time with friends or get in a bit of singing. Or more pottering indoors on the guitar.

7. Are you being paid to do what you love or do you do something else to finance what you love?
It’s both. I am being paid to do another thing that I love though it can be a trade off. With the PR work taking up so much of the week I have less time than I would like to write features.

8. What are your top money saving tips?
Avoid expensive coffee outings. If like me you are a caffeine monster make a flask of tea for working at home so you don’t need to boil the kettle a gazillion times a day. Get free business banking and allocate yourself a salary amount each month that you stick to rather than just spending whatever you have.

9. What new projects are in the pipeline?
It’s an exciting time ahead. My business name has always been my own name but with it being so busy I decided it was time to consider expansion. So I am turning over a new leaf. As of early next year I will be launching it with a new brand and website. And as for my other great love. Well, I plan to write a feature or two for Newsnet in the not too distant.

More at www.jolenec.co.uk or follow Jo on twitter @mediawummin.

If you’re an Edinburgh Freelancer why not meet Jolene and other freelancers at the next Edinburgh Freelance Friday on 16th December, 5.30pm at Sofi’s, Leith, more here. 

If you enjoyed this interview you might like to read the first interview in this series: Alan McIntosh: Man of Mystery Behind The Broughton Spurtle.